| WATCH IPL 2010 LIVE ONLINE VISIT THIS | | | | size and shape. The ground is grassy and is prepared |
| SITE | | | | by groundsmen whose jobs include fertilising, mowing, |
| Cricket is a bat-and-ball team sport that is first | | | | rolling and levelling the surface. Field diameters of |
| documented as being played in southern England in | | | | 140–160 yards (130–150 m) are usual. The |
| the 16th century. By the end of the 18th century, | | | | perimeter of the field is known as the boundary and |
| cricket had developed to the point where it had | | | | this is sometimes painted and sometimes marked by |
| become the national sport of England. The expansion | | | | a rope that encircles the outer edge of the field. The |
| of the British Empire led to cricket being played | | | | Laws of Cricket do not specify the size or shape of |
| overseas and by the mid-19th century the first | | | | the field[7] but it is often oval – one of cricket's |
| international matches were being held. Today, the | | | | most famous venues is called The Oval. |
| game's governing body, the International Cricket | | | | The objective of each team is to score more runs |
| Council (ICC), has 104 member countries.[1] With its | | | | than the other team and to completely dismiss the |
| greatest popularity in the Test playing countries, | | | | other team. In one form of cricket, winning the game |
| cricket is widely regarded as the world's second most | | | | is achieved by scoring the most runs, even if the |
| popular sport, after association football.[2][3][4] The | | | | opposition has not been completely dismissed. In |
| ICC oversees both men's and women's cricket. | | | | another form, it is necessary to score the most runs |
| The rules of the game are known as the Laws of | | | | and dismiss the opposition in order to win the match, |
| Cricket.[5] These are maintained by the ICC and the | | | | which would otherwise be drawn. |
| Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), which holds the | | | | Before play commences, the two team captains toss |
| copyright. A cricket match is played on a cricket field | | | | a coin to decide which team shall bat or bowl first. |
| at the centre of which is a pitch. The match is | | | | The captain who wins the toss makes his decision on |
| contested between two teams of eleven players | | | | the basis of tactical considerations which may include |
| each.[6] One team bats, trying to score as many | | | | the current and expected field and weather |
| runs as possible without being dismissed ("out") while | | | | conditions. |
| the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the | | | | The key action takes place in a specially prepared |
| other team's batsmen and limit the runs being scored. | | | | area of the field (generally in the centre) that is called |
| When the batting team has used all its available overs | | | | the pitch. At either end of the pitch, 22 yards (20 m) |
| or has no remaining batsmen, the roles become | | | | apart, are placed the wickets. These serve as a |
| reversed and it is now the fielding team's turn to bat | | | | target for the bowling (aka fielding) side and are |
| and try to outscore the opposition. | | | | defended by the batting side which seeks to |
| There are several variations in the length of a game | | | | accumulate runs. A run is scored when the batsman |
| of cricket. In professional cricket this ranges from a | | | | has run the length of the pitch after hitting the ball |
| limit of 20 overs per side (Twenty20) to a game | | | | with his bat, although as explained below there are |
| played over 5 days (Test cricket). Depending on the | | | | many ways of scoring runs.[8] If the batsmen are |
| form of the match being played, there are different | | | | not attempting to score any more runs, the ball is |
| rules that govern how a game is won, lost, drawn or | | | | dead and is returned to the bowler to be bowled |
| tied. | | | | again. |
| WATCH IPL 2010 LIVE ONLINE VISIT THIS | | | | The bowling side seeks to dismiss the batsmen by |
| SITE | | | | various means until the batting side is all out, |
| Objectives | | | | whereupon the side that was bowling takes its turn |
| A typical cricket field. | | | | to bat and the side that was batting must take the |
| A cricket match is played between two teams (or | | | | field. |
| sides) of eleven players each on a field of variable | | | | |